dSPACE Taps Goetzeler as CEO

Germany’s dSPACE GmbH has hired Martin Goetzeler (left) to succeed Herbert Hanselmann (right) as CEO, effective March 1.

Hanselmann, who founded dSPACE as a spinoff from the University of Paderborn in 1988, will remain the board’s managing director during an unspecified transition period. After that, he will serve in an advisory role.

Goetzeler, 55, most recently was CEO of Aixtron SE. The German company specializes in deposition equipment to the semiconductor industry.

Goetzeler previously headed Munich-based Osram Licht AG. He also had top-level stints at the lighting giant’s operations in Italy, the U.K. and U.S. Prior to joining Osram, Goetzeler held a range of positions at Siemens AG.

Part of his job at dSPACE will be to prepare the second generation of the Hanselmann family to eventually lead the company.

dSPACE markets integrated hardware and software tools for developing and testing electronic control units and mechatronic controls. The technology enables rapid prototyping work and virtual validation.